Adjustable gusset structure



ug- 22, 1933 l.. H. LEONARD Er AL 1,923,544

ADJUSTABLE GUSSET STRUCTURE Filed April 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L4 Z,ma fu L .gA//LQ 44 iff-,1Q 25 6 [lo flo n y' /Z u K5 "L T2 \5 f 1 f H?HG1 9 7 7 3 l'Z '50 9 2O f 'l2 75 ':\\'l'7 10 IA u 1.5 l

NVENTOR. LLOYDHLEONARD L OHN CWHHESELL hz.

ATTORNEY.

l Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,923,544ADJUSTABLE GUSSET STRUCTURE The invention relates Lloyd H. Leonard, Ph

iladelphia, and John C.

Application April 14, 1932. Serial No. 605,208

7 Claims.

to gussets and particugussets or gussets for reinstructures and it hasfor provide a gusset that shall be adjustable or extensible to flt wallsof various angular relations.

As particularly well exemplified by boat hulls, the side and bottomwalls thereof may have various angular relations in the same ordifferent boats.

Thus, whenever, a

gusset is employed along the hull, its sides, co-operating with the sideand bottom of the b oat, must conform in angular relation to theparticular angular relation of the side and bottom walls of the boat atthe position of the gusset. So far as we are aware, this situation hasheretofore been met by providing separate gussets for each wall angle,or

it may have been makeshift structures.

To simplify, ture and to provide a ture that may met by variouscompromise or eccnomize and facilitate manufacsimple single gussetstrucbe employed between walls of any practical angle, we provide agusset including side-by-side engaging web parts which so overlap as toremain in overlapping relation within a practical range of angle sides.vide adequate adjustment of the wall or These sides, in any relation,prooverlapping area for laterally spot welding the same together.

An extension of sion of flanges on brace side of the web the ideaincludes the provithe hypothenuse or angleplates, which flanges alsooverlap for spot welding to each other and to a brace extending transversely between the webs.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, shows a transverse or cross sectionof a portion of a boat or pontoon, at the meeting of a side wall and thebottom wall' thereof,

our invention, in side Fig. 2 is a view similar side and bottom walls ofangles and the gusset new angle,

Fig. 3 shows the perspective,

together with a gusset of elevation.

to Fig. 1 showing the the boat at different of Fig. 1, adjusted to thegusset parts separated and in Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing theparts of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 form of to better advantage, and Fig. 5 is aView, similar the invention.

to Fig. 4, of a modified Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the partsbeing preferably constructed of sheet metal, comprise a side wall 2, aedge stringer 5 of stringers 6 of channe bottom wall 3, a longitudinalZ-section, longitudinal side l section, longitudinal botvabout the thencommon tom stringers 7 of channel section, and a transverse frame of boxsection.

The transverse frame comprises transverse'andv upright channel sections9 and 10 that are mounted on the stringers 6 and 7 and cover plates 1160 and 12 respectively. A

The transverse frame is braced by small gussets 14, not of the presentinvention, in the side stringers 6, gussets15, in the bottom stringers 7and angle pieces 17 between the frame and the 65 side 2.

The gusset of the invention comprises halfportions including angle-braceor web portions 20 and 21 that are preferably constructed as segments ofa disc having transverse flanges 22 and 7p 23 along the arcuate edgesthereof and transverse flanges 24 and 25 along the remote or furthermostradial edges thereof: l

The half portions are constructed to so interilt that the web portions20 and 21 are in side by side 75 engagement and one of the flangeportions 22 and 23 overlies the other in engagement therewith.

The half portions are shown, in Fig. 3, in position just before they arebrought together to place the apices 27 thereof in substantiallycoincident 80 relation and to interflt the Webs 20 and 21 and theflanges 22 and 23 for sliding parallel movement apex 27.`

With the halves thus brought together, they are placed in position, asindicated in Fig. 1, and adjusted along the web or brace section of thecomposite gusset until the flanges 24 and 25 conform to the sides of theangle between the walls 3 and 2 against the covers 11 and 12 of thetransverse box frame to which they are spot welded. In this position,the webs 20 and 21 are preferably spot welded, as indicated at position29, and the overlapping portion of the flanges 22 and 23 may 4 besimilarly welded.

A plate 30 may then be cut to proper length 95 and placed along theflanges 22 and 23, between the remote ends thereof and acrosstheoverlap.

Fig. 2, differs from Fig. 1 only in the degree of the angle between theside and bottom walls 2 and 3, showing the gusset adjusted to thisincreased angle, with the webs and flanges still overlapping and theplate 30 of increased arcuate. dimension.

As indicated in Fig. 4, there are twogussets, as r above described,disposed in laterally-spaced rela- 10 tion, with the plate 30functioning as. a lateral brace or as a cover to render the resultant orcomposite gusset of box-like character.

In the form of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 5, in whichcorresponding parts are designatedl 11C by corresponding referencecharacters, the structure is substantially the same as that of Fig. 4,with the exception that the yplate 30 and the flanges 22 and 23 areomitted to render the structure of lessstrength but to obtain theadvantages of reduced weight and cost in service where the stronger andheavier gusset is not required.

The device is also particularly adapted to facilitate the joinder of itsparts by spot welding which is the attaching means of probably thesimplest, mostl economical and best formA in the metal joining art.

While we have shown and described particular forms of the invention,changes may be effected therein, without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A gusset of substantially box-section including parts adaptedjoradjustably fitting the gusset between walls of various angular relationsto each other.

2. A gusset comprising an angle brace including members having pivotalportions for turning movement in the direction of the brace toadjustably fit the gusset between Walls of various angular relations toeach other and to have said portions overlapping in theV direction ofthe brace in any adjusted position.

3. A gusset comprising an angle brace including portions for movement inthe direction of the brace to adjustably fit the gusset between walls ofvarious angular relations to each other and to have said portionsoverlapping in the direction of the brace in any adjusted position, saidportions also having transverse flanges for overlapping relation in saiddirection in any -adjusted position.

4. A gusset comprising an angle brace includthe brace to adjustably ntthe gusset between walls of various angular relations to each other andto have said portions overlapping in the direction of the brace in anyadjusted position, said portions also having transverse flanges foroverlapping relation in said direction in any ad- -justed position, anda member for connecting attachment between s'aid fianges.

5. A gusset comprising ing a pair of sheet members substantially in theform of disc segments and adapted for parallel movement in adjacentoverlapping side-by-side engagement about a center at the intersectionof the radial edges thereof to adjust the angle between the remoteradial edges thereof and to be secured together in adjusted position.

6. A gusset comprising a pair of laterallyspaced web portions eachincluding a pair of sheet members substantially in the form of discsegments and adapted for parallel movement in adjacent overlappingside-by-side engagement about a center at the edges thereof to adjustthe angle between the remote radial edges thereof and to be securedtogether in adjusting position, and a plate for extension transverselybetween and along the arcuate edges of said web portions across saidoverlap.

7. In combination, ous angular relation therealong, of gussets extendingbetween, the walls at spaced positions therealong, said gussets havingsubstantially identical adjustablyrelated parts adjusted to fit thegussets to the walls in accordance with the particular angular relationof the walls at the positions of the several gussets.

intersecting walls of variand a plurality LLOYD H. LEONARD. JOHN C.WI-H'I'ESELL, JR.

a web portion includ-l intersection of the radial I '105 and secured to,

